It is hard to believe that there are no tourists in Paris. With astonishment, a waitress in the famous nightlife area of Oberkamp asked a foreign couple when they paid the bill: "How did you get here?"
The couple seemed confused while they were near the exit of the nearby metro station, before realizing that it was a mistake to believe that they were the first tourists to return to the French capital.
Paris had welcomed 38 million foreign tourists last year, and now there is almost no one. France has closed its borders to travel except to travel for basic needs, as part of the procedures for the closure to cope with the outbreak of the Corona virus.
On a normal evening, the streets of the Bioburg suburb are crowded with tourists, but this week Alan stands alone in the store he runs in front of the Pompidou Center, which is a highlight of modern architecture.
There is no tourist browsing postcard holders at the door or art books or items for sale inside.
"Fortunately, we are not completely dependent on tourists," he said, adding, "Our customers are from Paris and other regions, and we also receive tourists."
Alan had reopened his store on May 11, when the formalities for closing were officially completed, and said, "Things are going smoothly over the weekend, but it's tough on weekdays."
Alan is eager to reopen the center, scheduled for July 1, as it is the largest customer source.
"Business will not be at its normal level, but there will be movement," he said, adding, "It is difficult to predict anything."
Sandrine stands at the "The Pirates Sweets" shop where sweets are sold in bright colors wrapped in transparent paper placed on wooden barrels.
"The work is highly dependent on the tourists," she said, adding, "I will not say that we are working, because in reality we are not."
Sandrine hopes the tourists will return soon, but she is not convinced that this will happen soon. "I don't think so. I don't know if they will return this year, maybe in 2021, but we will lose a year," she said.
On the side of the road, the manager of the small Lebanese "Olive and Thym" restaurant said, "Things are good, but not as they were before."
He added that home delivery services and "Take Away" kept the work going.
Cafés and restaurants in Paris are allowed to serve customers in open spaces, but Olive & Theme Restaurant took advantage of the new and more flexible rules, placing tables and chairs on the street. "Now we have arranged sitting outside, which is important," he said. "When it rains, we bring the tables and chairs back inside." When asked what he hoped for for the summer, he laughed, saying, "Sun and tourists."
Sweets shop owner: "I don't know if they will return this year, but we will lose a year."
Trader: "Business will not be at its normal level, but there will be movement, and it is difficult to predict anything."